Work support for fastener forming and inserting machines



Oct. 16, 1951 WORK Filed Jan. 18, 1947 J. G. WRIGHT ET AL SUPPORT' FOR FASTENER FORMING AND INSERTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 16, 1951 Filed Jan. 18, 1947 J. G. WORK SUPPORT FOR FASTENER FORMING WRIGHT ET AL 2,571,984V

AND INSERTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHA/nfs o. a/vey CHARLAS; A. WAT/(INS EUGENE `www WML/AM AJMA xn/fu.

Oct. 16, 1951 1. G. WRIGHT ErAL I 2,571,984

` woRK SUPPORT FOR FASTENER FORMING AND INSERTING M cHINEs 'I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fild Jan. le, 1947 f CHRLE'S D. )F0/Vf), I 648 6 nventors '4 cfm @L 5.5' A; mnr//vs us5/v5 50o/HV f8 WML/4M A. MAXWELL Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WORK SUPPORT FOR FASTENER FORMING AND INSERTIN G MACHINES Application January 18, 1947, Serial No. 722,806

Claims.

This invention relates to fastener forming and inserting machines, and more especially to a nailing machine which is adapted particularly for woodworking operations, and by which fasteners are formed from a continuous length of Wire or the like and inserted in material to be secured.

In the copending application of Wright et al., Ser. No. 595,776, filed May 25, 1945, and issued as U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,520,521, on August 29, 1950, a machine of the same general type adapted for soling shoes is disclosed. The present invention represents an improvement over the machine disclosed in the above application and incorporates modied and novel features adapting the present machine for heavy duty service in woodworking operations as described more in detail below.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a fastener forming and inserting machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a corresponding side elevation partly cut away and partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail in side elevation illustrating the arrangement of the work supporting table;

Fig. 4 is a substantially corresponding section showing further details of the work supporting table;

Fig. 5 is a detail oriented substantially on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2 showing the arrangement for actuating the Work support mechanism during fastener forming operations;

Fig. 6 is a corresponding detail in side elevation;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail illustrating the manner in which the actuating elements shown in Fig. 5 are associated with the work support;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and,

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail taken substantially L yon the line 9--9 of Fig. 7.

As mentioned above, the presentinvention is directed particularly to a nailing machine adapt- `ed for formingv a plurality of fasteners from a continuous length of wire and insertingthe fasteners formed in material to be secured. While certain features of the invention may be used in fastener inserting machines generally, and others are of general application otherwise, the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing for purposes of illustration as embodied in a machine of the above type.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the nailing machine shown comprises generally a suitable frame structure |00 supporting an operating mechanism incorporating means for cyclic actuation of fastener forming and inserting operations in association with a fastener forming knife assembly indicated generally at 200, means for mounting a supply of wire on the machine shown at-li, means ll for feeding wire from this supply for fastener forming operations, and a fastener inserting plunger mechanism 500.

The frame structure |00 is made up of a base portion Il adapted to support the machine on a floor or similar surface, a column portion |02 extending vertically from the base portion |0|, and an upper frame section |03 mounted at the upper extending end of the column p-ortion |02. The upper frame section |03 is arranged to support an operating shaft |04 in relation to a motor drive unit |05 controlled from a suitable switch box |00. Operating shaft |04 is connected with motor |05. through armature shaft pinion |01 and drive gear |08. The drive gear |08, which is mounted to rotate freely on shaft |04, is formed with a hub portion arranged as a driving clutch member |09. A driven clutch member ll is fixed on shaft |00 in opposed spaced relation to the driving clutch member |09, and houses a spring Apressed clutch pin which is normally held in disengaged position by a clutch bar ||2 positioned in engagement with clutch pin by a spring (not shown). l

The above described clutch mechanism is loperated from a suitable f-Oot pedal ||3 mounted in the base portion |0| of frame structure |00. The pedal ||3 is pivoted in base portion l0l, as at I4, so that when it is depressed a connecting rod l|5 is shifted to pivot a bell crank ||6 and similarly shift a second connecting rod This second connecting rod ||l is arranged in the column portion |02 of frame structure |00 to extend between-bell crank llt and a lever bar I|8 fulcrumed at one end in the column portion |02 and assembled with clutch bar I2 at its other end.

This linkage is accordingly such that depression of pedal ||3 causes connecting rod to shift downwardly in column portion |02 and pivot the fulcrumed lever bar |8 to trip clutch bar I2 and thus release clutch pin to engage the driving clutch member |09 so that operating shaft |04 is rotated with drive gear |08 by motor |05. Upon a complete revolution of operating shaft |04, the crank pin |I| is 'Withdrawn from driving clutch member |09 by clutch bar ||2 in the usual manner, unless the pedal I|3 remains depressed to initiate a succeeding cycle of operation. By this arrangement controlled operation of shaft member H34 is effected for the cyclic actuation of fastener forming and fastener inserting operations.

The fastener forming and inserting machinery of the present invention further comprises a work supporting mechanism 660 for positioning work in the machine. While a work supporting mechanism for a machine of this sort should allow work to be positioned readily in the machine, it must also be arranged to prevent shifting of the work during fastener inserting operations. Such shifting of the work is commonly avoided by providing means for moving the work support in work supporting direction during the fastener inserting operation so that it is gripped between the work support and the operating head of the machine as the fasteners are inserted. The work supporting mechanism 688 of the present invention is arranged for actuation in this manner from a ycam element'l mounted to rotate with operating shaft H34. The-action'of this cam element 69! is transferred to the work supportingrmech- 4anisrn 69e through a unique'connecting linkage adapted to the wide range of adjustment provided for the work support employed in the machine of the present invention, as described further below.

The work supporting mechanism illustrated generally at 66B in Figs. l and2, is shown more in detail in Figs. 3-and 4. The work support proper comprises-a table plate 692 secured centrally on a supporting member Gil?.v tted with a shank 634, which is slidingly received in a bushing B35V carried byan arm structure 606,

and a radially spacedV positioning dowel BBI, which is slidingiy received in an aperture S63 Yformed in arm structureBIlE and serves to prevent rotative'shifting of table'plate E32 about shank.

The arm structure BGSis assembled on-a vertical gulde column Vllli- (Fig-.3) -mounted-on the column portion IGZ of frame structure EGG. This assembly is-eiected by slide blocks llsecured on arm-'structure YIii to provide-a sliding association with thevertical guidecolumn 569 and thus allow verticaladjustmentofthe workvsupporting mechanism 609. An operating mechanism for obtaining verticaladjustmen-t is provided by a rack SII (Fig. 4) disposed onthe vertical guide column GGS-anda pinionIZ-disposed for rotation on the arm structure 636- in engagement withrrack Gli. The pinion 612 is rotated-bye.. crank member -6I?) (Fig. l) to. raise and-lower the arm vstructure-lt 4on Vertical guide column 889 for vertical adjustment of thework supporting mechanism.

in order to counteract the weight-of work supportingmechanism 66B during downward-adjustment7 a cylindrical body member EIll (Fig. 3)v is arrangedl for rotation with pinion SI2 on arm structure y5516. This` cylindrical body member 6M is formed with a longitudinal surface slotfBIS having a gradually inclined wall oriented in trailing position with respect to rotation ofthe cylindrical body 6I4 and pinion SI2 corresponding to lowering of the arm structure 5GB. A roller member SIE is seated in the slot SI5, and an annulus BI? i5 fitted over the cylindrical body 6I4 in sliding contact therewith and covering the slot SI5 and roller member BIS. A brake band GIS is disposed circumferentially over the annulus II'l from a stud member 5.29 carried on arm structure 606 and tted with a spring S29 arranged between a sliding flange member SZI andY washer 622 for clamping adjustment by a nut 623 to tighten brake band SIS suitably for braking rotation of the annulus G i l.

As a result oi this arrangement, during rotation of pinion SI2, and consequently of the cylindrical body member IIAl, for lowering the Work supporting mechanism 60E, braking of annulus 'I by brake band 628 causes roller member 6I6 to wedge between the annulus GII and cylindrical body Elfi and thus counteract the weight of work support mechanism BBG. When work support mechanism G09 is raised, however, the roller member Sill is shifted to the deep portion of slot SI5 so that annulus BIT and cylindrical body 6I4 operate freely in sliding contact even though annulus SI1 is braked.

Means for locking the arm structure B56 in adjusted position on vertical column guide 659 `is provided by correlated rack segments 6213 associated with the arm structure 695. These rack segments 621i are formed with staggered pitches in relation to the rack 8H to provide for engagement in closer correspondence with the-adjusted position selected for arm structure 636, and are pivotably mounted for engagement with the rack dii at the ends of ay lever S25-which is in turn pivotably connected at its longitudinal center with arrn- E26 extending from an eccentric 621 mounted in arm structure 63S and operated by a crank member 623. Crank member 628 may accordingly be manipulated to withdraw the rack segments 624 from rack 'eli to allow vertical adjustment of work supporting mechanism 600. When crank member B28 is returned to its-locking position after the-vertical adjustment-is made, eccentric 62? will shift arm 625 so that bothyof the rack segments 624 on lever 625 will'be-,moved into Contact with rack BII. -AS the rack segments 624 are formed with staggered pitches, however, they can only-be engaged selectively with rack 6I I. The pivoted arrangement of lever 25 allowsV such selective manipulation of the rack segments 624 so that the-mating segment at the adjusted position of arm structure 606 will engage'rack Sli to lock the work supporting mechanism in place.

The arm structure 606` also carries a lever structure for shifting the work support in work supporting direction during fastener inserting cperations as previously mentioned. This lever structure comprises an arm 629"extending from a pivot shaft 630 'journaled in arm structure'GIlS. The arm 629 extends to contact the bottom end of the shank 684 associated with the support 603 for table plate 502 so that it may be actuated to raise shank 604 vertically in the bushing 605 and thus shift table plate EiJZ, and any work supported thereon, in work supporting direction. A second arm 63I extends rearwardly from the pvot shaft B30 for association with an operating rod 632 which is actuated from the previously mentioned cam element BUI mounted on operating shaft |04, as illustrated in Figs.`5 to'9 ofthe drawing.

Actuation of operating rod 932 (Fig. 2) by cam element 60| (Fig. 6) is eifected through a lever element 633 (Fig. 5). The lever element 633 is pivotably supported as at 634 by a hanger block 635 mounted on upper frame structure 03, and comprises two plates `636 and 631 spaced to support a roller 638 in position to follow cam 60| and assembled with a block 639 riding the upper end ofV operating rod 632. Rotation of cam element BUI with operating shaft I4'wi11 accordingly displace roller 638 to pivot lever element 633 on hanger 635 and depress operating rod 632.

The operating rod 632 is slidingly guided in a sleeve 640 mounted on frame structure |03 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Just below Vsleeve 646 a collar member 64|, having a iiat surface 642 in sliding'contact with frame structure |63 to prevent turning, is secured on operating rod 632 by a set screw 643 from which a spring 644 is extended to a point of attachment (not shown) on frame structure |63 to return operating rod 632 after actuation by cam element 66|.

' Association of the operating rod 632 with the rearwardly extending arm 63| of the lever structure carried on supporting arm 666 is eifected by a bushing block 645 fitted on operating rod 632 and formed with a pin portion 646 adapted for assembly as a pivot with arm 63| by a washer 641 and cotter pin 648 (see Figs. 'l and 9). Downward motion of operating rod 632 upon actuation by cam element 66| is transmitted to arm 63| for shifting the work support in work supporting direction by a, spring 649 disposed on operating rod 632 between the bushing block 665 and a clamp mechanism 650.

The clamp mechanism 650 (Fig. 7) comprises a front clamp bar 65| and a rear clamp bar 652 which are pivotably joined by a connecting link 653, each of the clamp bars 65| and 652 being recessed about midway of their length to t the operating rod 632 as shown in Fig. 8. The rear clamp bar 652 is formed with a threaded bore 65s to receive a screw 655 extended through the front clamp bar 65|, and the head 656 of which bears on a washer 651 to draw the clamp bars 65| and 652 together in clamping engagement with operating rod 632. The head 656 of screw 655 is formed with a handle bar 656 so that sufcient purchase may be obtained on screw 655 to secure eifective clamping engagement with operating rod 632, and a guide key 656 is fitted over screw 655 between clamp bars 65| and 6 52 to ride in a slot 666 in operating rod 632 to prevent clamp mechanism 656 from turning on operating rod 632. thus be readily manipulated for adjusting the association of operating rod 632 with arm 6.3i in correspondence with any desired vertical adjustment of the work supporting mechanism 660.

As noted above, the fastener forming and inserting machine of the present invention is particularly adapted for woodworking operations. And it should be noted that the arrangement of the Various operating elements, as described above, is well suited to sturdy construction for heavy duty operations of this sort. Also, thework supporting mechanism used allows easy accommodation of a wide variety of work by the machine, and adapts the machine for operation in a singularly rapid and eicient manner.

'We claim:

1. In a fastener forming and inserting machine adapted for forming a plurality of fasteners from a continuous length of wire, the combination with an operating mechanism means for cyclic actuation of fastener forming and fastener inserting operations, of a work supporting mechanism comprising a work support, an arm structure carrying said work support and assembled with said machine for adjustment to position work in relation to said operating mechanism, a cam element supported on said machine and rotated in accordance with the cyclic actuation of said fastener forming and fastener inserting operations, an operating rod disposed on Clamp mechanism 656 may A incorporatingV said machine in association with said arm structure and actuated by said cam element for shifting said work support in said arm structure in work supporting direction during fastener inserting operations, and means for adjusting the association of said operating rod with said arm structure in correspondence with the adjustment of said arm structure and work support on said machine. 4

2. In a fastener forming and inserting machine adapted for forming Aa plurality of fasteners from a continuous length of wire and inserting said fasteners in material to be secured, a work supporting mechanism comprising an arm structure on said machine, a work support carried by said arm structure, a lever member fulcrumed on 'said arm structure for shifting said work support in said arm structure in work supporting direction, a cam element supported on said machine and rotated in accordance with the fastener forming and inserting operations of said machine, an operating rod disposed on said machine in association with said lever member and actuated by said cam element for operating said lever member to shift said work support in work supporting ldirection during fastener inserting operations, and means for adjusting the association of said operating rod with said lever member in correspondence with the adjustment of said arm structure and work support on said machine.

3. A work supporting mechanism for fastener inserting machines and the like comprising a work support, an arm structure carrying said work support, a rack mounted on said machine, means for assembling said arm structure on said machine in relation to said rack, a pinion disposed on said arm structure to engage said rack for adjusting said arm structure and work support to position work in said machine, and means for locking said arm structure in adjusted position on said machine comprising correlated rack segments associated with said arm structure, said rack segments being formed with staggered pitches in relation to said rack, and means for selective manipulation of said rack segments to engage the segment mating with said rack at the adjusted position of said arm structure.

4. A work supporting mechanism for fastener inserting machines and the like comprising a work support, an arm structure carrying said work support, a vertically disposed rack mounted on said machine, means for assembling said arm structure on said machine in relation to said rack, a pinion disposed for rotation on said arm structure to engage said rack for raising and lowering said arm structure and work support to position work in said machine, and a brake mechanism for counteracting the weight of said arm structure and work support during lowering comprising a cylindrical body disposed for rotation with said pinion and formed with a longitudinal surface slot having a gradually inclined wall oriented in trailing position with respect to rotation of said cylindrical Ibody corresponding to lowering of said arm structure and work support, a roller1 member seated in said longitudinal slot, an annulus fitted over said cylindrical body in sliding contact therewith and covering said longitudinal recess and roller member, and means for braking rotation of said annulus whereby said roller member is wedged between said annulus and said cylindrical body to transfer braking action from said annulus to said cylindrical body www@ during;A lowering.- o'f 4said'far'mvstructurel andr Work sppontand vsa-id -annul'us and cylindrical body operate freely insliding, Contactl during:A raising of said-arm :structure and work support.

5.Awo1'k'supporting mechanism for fastener 5 inserting machines and the like comprising a. workY support;k an arm Kstructure-ear'ryinglsaid -Work support and assembled with :said machine for adjustment to position work for fastener inserting'operationspalever member fulcrum'edl on saidarmstructure for shifting? said .work support insaid: arm structure -in work supporting# direction, aeam ele-ment sup-portedcmsadv machine fonrotaton during 1 fastener inser'tinggoperations, an operating rod disposed on said.- machine for aetuation-.byLsaid-cam element and `in association with saclleifer member forA operating said lever rriemloer to shift said .worksupport in work sup- 'portingdirection.during fastenerinserting operations, and meansior adjusting -the assoiaton offsaidv-operating rod-rand said lever member in correspondence-with the adjustmentof said arm structure and .werk support onisaidimachine.

JOHN'G. WRIGHT. CHARLEsDATON .CHARLES A. WATK'INS. EUGENE soijAN.H WLLAM. A, M'mivmixnl;,.v

REFEREN GES' GIT ED The -following referenee's i a're of `record `in the 'leofthis Ipaterna-z 'NTED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,571,984 October 16, 1951 JOHN G. WRIGHT ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, line 51, after the numeral 629 insert (Figs. 3 and. 4) column 7, line 23, after the word and period machine and before the signatures to the specification insert the following claim- 6. A work supporting mechanism for fastener inserting machines and the like comprising a work support, an arm structure carrying said Work support and assembled with said machine for adjustment to position Work for fastener inserting operations, a lever member fulcrumed on said arm structure for shifting said work support in said arm structure in work supporting direction, a cam element supported on said machine for rotation during fastener inserting operations, an operating rod disposed on said machine for actuation by said cam element and in association with said lever member for operating said lever member to shift said work su pport in work supporting direction uring fastener inserting operations, means for adjusting the association of said operating rod and said lever member 1n correspondence machine, said means comprising a bushing pivotally associated with said lever member and mounted for sliding movement on said operating rod, a spring member disposed over said operating rod for bearing against the face of said bushing that is disposed in opposed relation to the direction of actuation of said operating rod by said cam element, and a manually operable clamping means associated with said operating rod for sliding movement when released to allow ad'ustment of said work support on said machine and for tightenin in xed clamping relation on said operating rod for positioning said spring member against said bushing at an adjusted position of said work support to transmit the actuation of said operating rod through said spring member to said lever member.

In the heading to the printed specification, line 9, for 5 Claims.

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oice.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of February, A. Dt 1952.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patente. 

